Fastening device for trunks.



UNITED STATES EricE.

PATENT FASTENING DEVICE FOR TRUNKS..

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 679,224, dated July 23, 1901i.. Application filed December 14, 1900. Serial No. 39,934. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EDWARD H. FOX, briga dier-general, National Guard of Washington, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olympia, in the county of Thurston and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices for Trunks, of which the following is a specication.

My present invention pertains to trunkfasteners or securing devices, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a trunk,

. showing my invention applied thereto; Fig.

2, a front face view of the strap or band tightening devicef together with the lockcarrying plate 3 Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the shell or casing, partly broken away to illustrate certain featuresof the invention; and Fig. 5, a

`face view of a portion of a trunk, showing a modiiied form of the invention.

The object of my present invention is to provide means for securing and maintaining proper and sufficient tension on a strap or band which is passed about the trunk, and also to provide means in conjunction with the trunk-lock which shall when the lock is in engagement with the lid inclose or cover the strap-tension mechanism, so that said mechanism cannot be tampered with or operated and at the same time lock the said mechanism against accidental movement or release.

In the drawings Ihave shown two embodiments of my invention, though of course, as will be seen from the following description, it is susceptible of change in form from the two constructions illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l to fl, inclusive, A denotes the body of the trunk, and B the lid thereof.

To the body of the trunk, and preferably though not necessarily in the position shown there is attached a shell or casing O, which extends in through the front Wall of the trunk and is secured thereto by suitable rivets or bolts extending through the flange D of the shell or casing which bears directly against the front face or wall, as is most clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and'. Within said shell or casing there is rotatably mounted upon a shaft E a drum F, the drum at one end being provided with a series of ratchet-teeth G, while its opposite end is enlarged, forming a shoulder or collar H. Formed in said shoulder or collar H is a series of openings I', adapted and designed to receive a bar or rod, by which motion is imparted to the drum. The said collar or enlargement is also provided with a transversely extending opening J, countersunk upon the outer face, as is shown in Fig. 4.. The shell or casingis likewise provided with an opening L, which when the parts are brought to proper position will aline with the opening J.

The strap or band, formed of any suitable materialsuch as rope, wire, chain, or the like has one end passed through the opening J, and if it be wire or rope aknot is formed therein and drawn into the countersunk opening or recess J. The opposite end of the band or strap (denoted by the reference-letter M) has connected to it, by preference, a short link N, which when the strap or band has been passed around the trunk is brought into engagement with a pin carried by the drum.

A dog or detent P is secured to one side of the casing in line with the ratchet Gr and serves to prevent the ratchet, and consequently the drum, from rotating in one direction.

Assuming that the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. l-that is to say, the strap or band has been passed around the trunk and the link brought into engagement with the pin-motion is imparted to the drum by a lever or bar inserted into the openings I. As the drum rotates it will of course wind the strap or band about it and place the same under tension. The dog or detent P engaging with the teeth G prevents any retrograde movement of the drum, and consequently Whatever tension is placed on the strap or band is maintained.

In order to prevent access being had to the drum, and also to maintain the parts in position against any accidental displacement, I provide a cover or plate adapted and arranged to close over the shell or casing and the contained drum. In the figures above referred to the plate Q is pivotally connected to the lower end of the shell or casing and TOO 10. In combination with a trunk and its In testimony whereof I have signed my lid; a strap or band passing about the same; name to this specification in the presence of a tightening device for said strap or baud, two subscribing Witnesses.

mounted in a, chamber normally open When EDWARD II. FOX. 5 said trunk is closed and the band or strap is Witnesses:

under tension; and means for Closing said M. G. ROYAL,

chamber. ETHEL ROYAL. 

